Sturgeon Threatens To Call Second Scottish Independence Referendum Next Year

Nicola Sturgeon has said she may call a second referendum on Scottish independence next year if she is not satisfied with Britain’s Brexit deal.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the Scottish First Minister said she would consider the move if the UK government chooses to trigger Article 50 without the approval of the Scottish government.

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“Of course at that point that would be an option and a decision that I would have to consider,” she said.

“I will have an independence referendum if I come to the conclusion that is in the best interests of Scotland. I’ve always said that. It would be up to Scottish people ultimately to decide if that is the right way to go.”

She also used to interview to effectively claim that Scotland could wield a veto over Brexit, saying: “I think we are in a very strong position. That is a position that I am going to use as well as I can.”

Scotland voted heavily to remain in the European Union in last month’s referendum, but the UK as a whole voted to leave.

Theresa May, the new Prime Minister, has promised that “Brexit means Brexit” and created a new government department dedicated to taking Britain out of the EU.

David Davis, the minister in charge of that department, clarified that Ms Sturgeon wields no veto over Brexit, telling Sky News “I don’t think that works” when asked about Scotland staying in the EU.

“The aim is to try to address the concerns of people who are basically Remain people, who say ‘well we are worried about inward investment, we are worried about trade with Europe, we are worried about all sorts of things’,” he added.

“And we will try as best we can – they can’t have a veto because there are 17.5 million people who have given us a mandate, they have told us what to do, we can’t disobey it – but what we can do is to try to do what we can to minimise any disruption or turbulence or problems.”